Opinion

Iris Apfel Is More Than Her Plumage

The chemistry between Iris Apfel and her Park Avenue doorman hinted at a kind nature.

5/28/2015|Updated: 5/28/2015

In homage to 93-year-old Iris Apfel, I wore four necklaces in purples, blues, and greens out to dinner last night. With a fuchsia skirt and leopard print shoes. Albert Maysles’ documentary about her, Iris, inspired me in multiple ways.

One way has nothing to do with fashion. I saw a couple of old-school virtues under her glorious plumage. Spoiler alert, her husband Charles Apfel celebrates his 100^th birthday in a climax of the movie. They have been married since 1948. Part of that is good fortune, but surely part of it is loyalty.

She said, “I would never do anything to offend my husband,” or her mother, while her mother was living. That is super old-school, Confucian, Shakespearean. You got your filial piety, your respect. This used to keep civilization together. It probably used to keep people happier.

Iris Apfel chose a spectacular red embellished baseball cap for her husband, including him in a hunter-gatherer adventure at the flea market.

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Mary Silver

Author

Mary Silver writes columns, grows herbs, hikes, and admires the sky. She likes critters, and thinks the best part of being a journalist is learning new stuff all the time. She has a Masters from Emory University, serves on the board of the Georgia chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and belongs to the Association of Health Care Journalists.